THE 2007 angling season will be remembered as one of the wettest and most disappointing in recent times, according to the Moy Fishery Newsletter issued by the North Western Regional Fisheries Board (NWRFB).
The rod catch was down by over 83 per cent on the 2006 season and by almost 75 per cent on the 10-year average.
While the early part of the season showed promise, with ideal fly water, angling remained poor through March and April. Ghillie John Howley caught the first salmon on the Weir Pool on April 20th, and later that day Des Chew from Dublin Angling Initiative caught a second fish. Angling improved during May but, by early June, just 34 had been recorded.
As the peak season approached, weather conditions became increasingly unsettled and grilse arriving in the river ran straight through the system. One flood was followed by another in July and most of August, and when water levels began to drop in early September, most of the salmon had run upstream. This resulted in some excellent angling in the Mount Falcon and Foxford areas.
The newsletter provides a résumé on the main beats of the fishery. Starting with the Ridge Pool, it highlights this beat as the premier stretch on the fishery and, though returns were well down, the proportion of the overall catch was almost 50 per cent. Catch returns reached only 241, compared with 1,351 in 2006. The Weir Pool also suffered badly from high water levels and was often inaccessible to anglers. Clearly this beat fishes best in a dry year, when its deep pools offer more attractive lies for salmon, the newsletter concludes.
On a brighter note, the average size of salmon showed a significant rise on previous years. The drift-netting ban seems to have produced a result in its first year, with the mean weight increasing from 1.5kg to 1.8kg. There was also a notable absence of net-marked fish.
A tagging project undertaken by NWRFB in conjunction with the Marine Institute proved highly successful in its first year. Moy salmon were re-released with a coded double floy tag, and anglers fortunate to catch one of these fish on their return were offered a reward.
Information provided by the tag recovery was then used to estimate the exploitation of salmon to the rod as well as particulars on survival and migration. A total of 89 fish were tagged, and eight recovered. Meanwhile, the board is offering free fishing on the Ridge Pool until the first salmon is caught. Furthermore, the Cloongee Fishery is now under the management of the NWRFB, and permits are available from Tiernan's Tackle Shop, Foxford.
The first salmon of the season for Derryclare Butts at Lough Inagh in Recess, Co Galway was landed last Friday week by Robert Kelly from Dublin. The fresh fish weighed 4kg and succumbed to a Collie Dog fly. The previous day at the same location a salmon rose to the fly and was lost.
Following the recent article in Angling Notes on the Gweebarra River, the Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers secretary, Noel Carr, informed me that legal proceedings are under way regarding fishing rights on the Donegal Fishery. As I was not aware of such action, we await the outcome of these proceedings.
The 18th Annual Open Wet-fly Charity Fishing Competition, in aid of the Kerry Stars Special Olympics Clubs and Killarney Water Rescue, will take place on Sunday, April 20th, on Lough Lein in Killarney, Co Kerry.To date, the event has raised over €129,000 for charities in Kerry. Entry forms and €50 entrance fee (without boat and engine), should be sent to Corry O'Flaherty, Lough Lein Anglers, 9 Coolegrean Park, Killarney (064-33205), no later than Tuesday, April 8th, 2008.
Newry & Mourne and Armagh Branch of the MS Society are holding a fly-fishing classic at Danescast Fishery, Jerrettspass, Co Armagh on April 26th and 27th, 2008. Entry fee is £30 (€38). To secure a place, contact Susan at MS Society Office, Ballybot House, Newry, on 028-30835657 between 11am and 3pm.
Winner of the free prize draw at the recent Loughs Agency Angling Fair was Tristin Harkin from Ardmore, Londonderry, who received a top class Greys 8ft fishing rod from angling development manager, Lionel Knobbs.